Patents by Inventor Wilfried Michel

Wilfried Michel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100327543
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension system for motor vehicles having a wheel carrier, which has a wheel-side support element, which mounts in a rotatable manner a vehicle wheel, and an axle-side support element, between which is connected an actuating member, on actuation of which the wheel-side support element can be pivoted through a pivot angle (?) relative to the axle-side support element for the purpose of adjusting a track and/or camber angle (?, ?). According to the invention, the actuating member has a wheel-side rotational part and an axle-side rotational part, both of which can be rotated about their axes of rotation relative to each other, and the wheel-side rotational part can be deflected through the pivot angle (?) relative to the axle-side rotational part when the two rotational parts are rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Meitinger, Peter Kunsch, Wilfried Michel, Hugo Mueller, Wolfgang Schmid, Christoph Kossira
  • Publication number: 20100308518
    Abstract: The invention relates a spring strut arrangement for wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, which is formed from a telescoping shock absorber, a suspension spring element which is preferably made as a helical compression spring, and a preloaded spring element which is preferably made as a helical compression spring, the spring elements being supported by way of spring caps on the body of the motor vehicle and on a wheel suspension element and a third spring cap located in between being movably guided along the longitudinal axis of the shock absorber relative to the body by way of an electrically driven positioning drive which is located within the spring elements, the positioning drive having a positioning spindle which is pivoted around the shock absorber and an adjusting nut which is connected to the movable spring cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Wilfried Michel
  • Publication number: 20100253026
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting the camber and/or toe of a driven wheel of a wheel suspension, in particular for motor vehicles, with a wheel carrier on which the wheel is pivoted, the wheel carrier being divided into a carrier part which holds the wheel a guide part which is connected to the wheel suspension and into two pivotal parts which are arranged in between, which can be rotated to one another as well as to the carrier part and to the guide part around axes of rotation, and which interact with control surfaces which face one another and which are inclined by a defined angle to the axis of rotation, and a wheel drive shaft which is guided by the carrier part and guide part and by the pivotal parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Michel, Karl-Hienz Meitinger, Christoph Kossira, Hugo Mueller, Wolfgang Schmid
  • Publication number: 20100109264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing different vehicle models in which in a comfort-oriented version a vehicle wheel is pivoted in a wheel guiding element of a wheel suspension. According to the invention, in a model with enhanced dynamics of vehicle motion, between the wheel guiding element and the vehicle wheel in the axial direction, an actuator is interposed for adjusting the camber and/or track of the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Christoph Kossira, Hugo Mueller, Wilfried Michel, Karl-Heinz Meitinger, Wolfgang Schmid
  • Publication number: 20100072714
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension for motor vehicles, with at least one wheel-side support member which pivotally supports one vehicle wheel and at least one axle-side support member, between which at least one intermediate element is connected, in particular an actuator for setting the track angle and/or the camber angle (?, ?) of the vehicle wheel. According to the invention the wheel-side support member and the axle-side support member are pressed into contact with one another by a pretensioning means with a pretensioning force (FV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schmid, Karl-Heinz Meitinger, Wilfried Michel, Christoph Kossira, Hugo Mueller
  • Publication number: 20090283977
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting the height of the body of a motor vehicle having a bearing spring which is connected between the wheel guiding element of the wheel suspension and the body and which is supported on a spring disk which is vertically adjustable by way of an actuating device, and having an overload spring which limits a defined spring path in the deflection direction. According to the invention, the overload spring is assigned an actuating device with which the overload spring is vertically adjustable, preferably following the vertical adjustment of the spring disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Wilfried Michel
  • Publication number: 20090230640
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension for steered wheels of motor vehicles having a telescoping shock absorber which is preferably permanently connected to the wheel carrier and a helical compression spring which surrounds it and which is clamped between a lower spring plate which is preferably permanently connected to the shock absorber tube and an upper, body-side spring plate. According to the invention for vertical adjustment of the body around the shock absorber there is an actuator, and the actuator acts by way of an actuating pinion with the interposition of an axial anti-friction bearing on the upper spring plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Wilfried Michel
  • Publication number: 20090223322
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator for a wheel guiding element of motor vehicle wheel suspensions, with a first, preferably electrically driven actuating drive which selectively changes the length of the wheel guiding element, in the actuator there being a compensation spring which counteracts the compressive forces acting on the wheel guiding element. According to the invention, the pretensioning force of the compensation spring can be changed by means of a second, preferably electrically driven actuating drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Christoph Kossira, Kari-Heinz Meitinger, Wilfried Michel
  • Publication number: 20090146385
    Abstract: A height adjustment on a wheel suspension for motor vehicles, having a shock absorber which has a piston rod, which shock absorber is dynamically connected to the vehicle body, and to which shock absorber a helical spring is coaxially assigned which is clamped between two spring plates that can be changed in their active distance and that determine the spring deflection and rebound path relative to a normal level, the body-side end of the shock absorber being assigned a shock absorber cap which influences the free spring path ā€œsā€ of the helical spring and which is made adjustable at the same time with the adjustable spring plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Wilfried Michel
  • Publication number: 20090108546
    Abstract: An adjustment device for suspension means in wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, with the suspension means having a first spring, for example a bearing spring that is arranged between the assembly of the motor vehicle and wheel guide elements, and/or a second spring, for example a preloaded spring that is connected in parallel or in series, as well as an electrically-actuated actuator, by means of which a force adjustment between the motor vehicle assembly and the wheel guide elements is made possible. According to the invention, the electric actuator is provided with an integrated brake or lock that acts in a bistable manner in such a way that in the unpowered state, it can occupy an open or closed position, and can be switched by means of electric actuation from the open to the closed position and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Armin OHLETZ, Wilfried Michel
  • Publication number: 20090072460
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension for motor vehicles, with a suspension strut which is formed from a shock absorber and a bearing spring, the bearing spring being supported by way of spring plates on the body of the motor vehicle and on the tube of the shock absorber, and a spring plate being movably guided relative to the body and able to be moved axially by means of an actuator relative to the shock absorber tube, and the suspension strut having a preloaded spring with a spring force which is opposite the bearing spring, which is supported on the body of the motor vehicle and also on the movable spring plate of the bearing spring. According to the invention, the actuator is located outside, in particular radially outside the suspension strut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Wilfried Michel
  • Publication number: 20090057969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strut for a wheel suspension of motor vehicles, comprising a telescoping shock absorber and a support spring which surrounds it, as well as with a vertical adjustment means with a driven driving spindle which is pivoted by way of a body-mounted bearing on the engine housing side, which interacts with a vertically adjustable lifting element which is arranged to be non-rotatable and which bears the spring plate of the support spring. According to the invention, the driving spindle, in addition to the body-mounted bearing, is supported directly or indirectly on the cylinder tube of the shock absorber to be able to pivot and move axially relative to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Wilfried MICHEL
  • Publication number: 20090045595
    Abstract: The invention relates to a height adjustment device for motor vehicles that is arranged between a height-adjustable spring plate (16) of a support spring (18) of a wheel suspension assembly and the vehicle body (54, 56) and in which a drive motor (10) cooperates via a shifted gear (34, 36, 40) with a control sleeve (26) that is mounted in a rotational fashion to adjust the height of the spring plate (16). According to the invention, the shifted gear (34, 36, 40) connected between the drive motor (10) and the control sleeve (26) is arranged inside the control sleeve (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Wilfried Michel
  • Publication number: 20090014265
    Abstract: A dual-tube shock absorber comprising a working cylinder which is filled with a damping fluid and a container tube which concentrically encloses the working cylinder. A storage space which is filled with damping fluid and a gas is formed between the working cylinder and the container tube. The working cylinder is sealed relative to the storage space by means of a bottom plate. The working cylinder is dynamically connected to the storage space by way of at least one bottom valve which is provided in the bottom plate. The working cylinder is divided into two working chambers by way of a piston which has at least one piston valve. The piston rod of the piston is guided by way of a piston rod guide which is located on the piston rod outlet-side end of the dual-tube shock absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Wilfried Michel
  • Publication number: 20090014931
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strut for a motor vehicle with an axially adjustable spring plate comprising a vibration damper with a cylinder and a piston rod, a support spring which is dynamically connected to the spring plate, a ring electric motor with a rotor and a stator, a ball screw with a threaded spindle which is pivoted on the piston rod, and a threaded nut for translational motion of the spring plate, and a bearing arrangement for fixing the strut on the vehicle body, the bearing arrangement having spherical bearing surfaces which allow at least a pivoting motion of the strut to the vehicle body. The invention is characterized in that in the region of the bearing arrangement the vehicle body is dynamically connected to the strut by way of a radially-stiff and rotationally-stiff component which is axially and cardanically soft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventor: Wilfried MICHEL
  • Patent number: 4731151
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically mounting ready-made headliners into automotive bodies, comprising a jig selectively connectible to an assembly line conveyor to move synchronously therewith while performing the headliner mounting operation by moving a platform with a preferably adhesive coated headliner placed thereon through a window cut-out of a body, elevating the headliner into contact with the ceiling of the body while simultaneously moving a counter-pressure fixture against the roof of the body, and thereafter disconnecting from the conveyor to move in a direction opposite the movement of the conveyor, into a position for loading another headliner and reconnecting to the conveyor for another mounting cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Audi AG.
    Inventors: Adolf Kaller, Wilfried Michel, Josef Motzet
  • Patent number: 4728383
    Abstract: A method of automatically mounting read-made headliners into automotive bodies consecutively moved along an assembly line by a conveyor system, by loading a headliner provided with a coating of adhesive on its upper surface onto a support at a first position of the assembly line, moving the support with the headliner thereon into a window-cut out of an automotive body, connecting the support to the moving conveyor system to prevent relative movement between the headliner and the automotive body, raising the support to move the adhesive coating on the headliner against the ceiling of the body to affect an adhesive bond therewith while at the same time moving a support member against the roof of the body to counteract the pressure of the headliner against the ceiling, removing the support and the support member, respectively, from the body at a second position of the assembly line, and returning the support to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Audi AG.
    Inventors: Adolf Kaller, Wilfried Michel, Josef Motzet
  • Patent number: 4041503
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an attendance time recorder having a printing device for printing times on a data medium such as a time card. The arrangement includes a printing head adapted to support printing types and a plurality of adjacently disposed number wheels of annular form with internal teeth for indexing by engagement with an indexing pawl and retaining means for the data medium. The retaining means and the printing head are adjustable according to a program and a drive is provided for effecting linear sliding movement of the printing head relative to the retaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: Simplex Time Recorder
    Inventors: Wilfried Michel, Hartmut Reichert, Erich Willmann